THE TASTE OF TWO DECADES: 12 TOP RIOJAS FROM THE 2001 VINTAGE
1 Izadi, Selección 2001 97
£29.99 (1997) Wine Dancer
Restrained and very elegant, with complex macerated fruit, spice and tertiary aromas. In the mouth it is spectacular and multilayered, with finely grained tannins and perfect balance. Slow and complex finish. Drink 2021-2030 Alcohol 13.7%
Bodegas Santalba, Viña Hermosa Gran Reserva 2001 96
santalba.com
Benchmark aromas of good old Rioja: vanilla, cinnamon, dried fruits, truffles. Great on the palate, in the style of the 1950s – suave, delicate but persistent, and a very slow finish. Excellent, and ready to drink.
Drink 2021-2025 Alc 13.5%
Bodegas Valdemar, Conde Valdemar Edición Limitada 2001 96
valdemar.es
Amazing nose, with black fruit, red berries and a hint of pepper (Cabernet?). Balanced, serious, deep, complex and powerful. A great wine, made to improve for a very long time. Drink 2021-2035 Alc 14%
2 Bodegas Ontañón, Gran Reserva 2001 95
ontanon.es
Pungent, intense spicy notes, with orange peel, animal notes and truffles. Delicious, complex, fresh, long and very open, with an appetising finish. A great wine, made to last for a very long time. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13.5%
Remírez de Ganuza, Gran Reserva 2001 95
£185 (ib, 2000) Brunswick Fine Wines
Rich, multilayered, savoury and intriguing, with a long life ahead. It needs decanting first, and improves after some time in the glass. Very long and full of energy. A jewel.
Drink 2021-2040 Alc 15%
3 Roda, Roda I Reserva 2001 95
£57.92-£72.40 (ib, 2004) Christopher Keiller, Farr Vintners, Wine Dancer
Impressively built, powerful, tannic but velvety. Very long and complex; subtle but assertive. This is a Tempranillo monster, made to grow for years and last forever.
Drink 2021-2040 Alc 14.5%
4 Bodegas Manzanos, Finca Manzanos Gran Reserva 2001 94
£25.95 Alliance Wine, Urban Craft, Vinotopia Intensely perfumed (cedar box, dried herbs, sous-bois). Tannic, solidly built, very serious, quite austere. Needs aeration; with time in glass it opens up to reveal a distinctive expression. Surprising red fruit and slight spicy notes. Long. Drink 2021-2024 Alc 13.5%
5 Urbina, Reserva Especial 2001 94
£19.55-£26 (1998) Aitken Wines, Burridges of Arlington St, Bush Wines, Mumbles Fine Wines, Portland Wines, Roberts & Speight, TB Watson,
The Good Spirits Co, Winearray
Clearly an oxidative style with so much maturity and age. Probably at its peak, yet the palate is still perfumed and floral. Has a slightly drying edge, but nevertheless there’s a velvety texture and wonderful length. Drink 2021-2023 Alc 14%
6 Bodegas Bilbaínas, La Vicalanda Reserva 2001 93
bodegasbilbainas.com
Fine, open and quite developed, with chocolate and earthy aromas, but very savoury. Complex and nicely textured. Long. Ready to drink. Drink 2021-2023 Alc 14%
Bodegas Lecea, Gran Reserva 2001 93
bodegaslecea.com
Quite intense aromas, earthy and noble. Showing spectacular vividness in the mouth, with soft, velvety tannins, freshness and an open, complex finish.
Drink 2021-2030 Alc 14%
7 Ollauri, Conde de los Andes 2001 93
£45 Moreno Wines
Great fruit concentration and impressive depth. Nice tannin texture and suave but firm balance. Some chocolate and leather notes. There’s a long finish, although it’s not particularly complex. A wine that shows great capacity to improve with bottle ageing. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13.5%
Finca Nueva, Gran Reserva 2001 92
£27-£30.95 (2005) Christopher Keiller, Wine Direct How lovely: a mature wine with vivid acidity, a lemon lift, a fine layer of red and black fruits, firm and suave tannins, and a very long finish. Drink 2021-2025 Alc 14.5%